Cultural Events in NYC

NEW YORK CITY VISITORS WILL FALL FOR THESE FANTASTIC CULTURAL EVENTS

—-- Eclectic Exhibits, Productions and Performances Will Engage and Entertain Audiences
This Season--—

New York, NY (August 1, 2006) �Arts appreciation comes easy in New York City with an exciting line-up of cultural events this season. Here are a few great reasons to get out and about in the Big Apple this fall.

CultureFest
Explore New York City�s myriad cultural organizations all in one place at one time during this free, annual celebration at historic Battery Park October 14 and 15. You�ll find live performances, children�s activities and more than 100 arts organizations from all five boroughs. Highlights include African-Colombian sounds from Sebastian Cruz� Coba courtesy of the Brooklyn Academy of Music; musical exploration of East and West by the Silk Road Ensemble from the Rubin Museum of Art; and kids activities such as movement classes by the Dance Theatre of Harlem and live animals, science demonstrations and space shows from the American Museum of Natural History (212-484-1222, nycvisit.com).

NYC & Company Cultural Organization of the Month
Enjoy special offers when you visit a NYC & Company Cultural Organization of the Month. In September, The Municipal Art Society of New York will provide a special discount on walking tours showcasing urban design, and book purchases (212-935-3960, www.mas.org). Discover the Alliance of Residence Theatres New York (A.R.T./New York) in October (212-244-6667, www.offbroadwayonline.com); Brooklyn Children�s Museum in November (718-735-5000, www.brooklynkids.org) and the New York Historical Society (212-873-3400, www.nyhistory.org) in December. Log on to nycvisit.com for more information on upcoming offers.

Black Style Now
Explore the influence of African-American culture on international fashion at this groundbreaking exhibition on view at the Museum of the City of New York through February 19, 2007. The dazzling display features designs from Sean �Diddy� Combs, gowns worn by Beyonce and Lil� Kim, classic Adidas and Nike footwear, and an overview of black style from the twenties to sixties (212-534-1672, www.mcny.org).

2nd Annual Diet Coke Women in Jazz Festival
The world�s best female jazz vocalists and instrumentalists take to the stage at Dizzy�s Club Coca-Cola through October 1. Among the dazzling jazz divas are the Marian McPartland Trio, the Eliane Elias Quartet with Marc Johnson and the Patrice Rushen Trio (212-258-9595, www.jazzatlincolncenter.org).

Louis Comfort Tiffany and Laurelton Hall�An Artist�s Country Estate
See surviving architectural elements, gorgeous stained-glass windows and extraordinary objects of what some say was one of the great country houses in America during this major exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art from November 21 to May 20, 2007 (212-879-5500, www.metmuseum.org).

Opera
As part of its 40th anniversary at Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Opera will feature six new productions including Anthony Minghella�s highly theatrical staging of Puccini�s Madama Butterfly and the eagerly-anticipated world premiere of The First Emperor staged by legendary film director Zhang Yimou with Placido Domingo as lead (212-799-3100, www.metopera.org). The New York City Opera will launch new productions of Handel�s Semele and Donizetti�s L� elisir d� amore, as well as performing fan favorite Bizet�s Carmen (212-496=0600, www.nycopera.com).

New York Philharmonic
Classical music enthusiasts can look forward to diverse programming from the New York Philharmonic with highlights such as Lorin Maazel leading the Opening Night Gala Concert featuring pianists Emanuel Ax and Yefim Bronfman; a program celebrating the 100th birthday of Dmitri Shostkovich; the U.S. premiere of Kaija Saariaho�s Adriana Songs and a special holiday concert with Garrison Keillor, the star of A Prarie Home Companion (212-875-5900, www.nyphil.org).

Snug Harbor Cultural Center
This fascinating Staten Island historical visitor destination will present a variety of entertaining productions this season including Ain�t Misbehavin�, an American Girl Fashion Show, the 2nd Annual Richmond County Savings Foundation Dickens Festival and Scrooge: The Musical (718-448-2500, www.snug-harbor.org).

Picasso
The works of prolific Spanish artist Pablo Picasso make a splash on the art scene with three blockbuster exhibits. The Whitney Museum of American Art pays homage to the artist with Picasso and American Art September 28 to January 28 (212-570-3767, www.whitney.org). The Metropolitan Museum of Art looks at works from a number of artists in Cezanne to Picasso: Ambroise Vollard, Patron of the Avant-Garde from September 14 to January 7, while the Solomon R. Guggeheim Museum presents El Greco to Picasso: Time, Truth and History beginning on November 17 (212-423-2500, www.guggenheim.org).

2006 Next Wave Festival
The annual showcase of contemporary creative expression will engage audiences with 18 world-class events at the Brooklyn Academy of Music from October 3 through December 18. Program highlights include Steve Reich @ 70; the National Theatre of Norway, Oslo�s production of Ibsen�s The Wild Duck; and Red, Hot + RIOT LIVE!, a special two night HIV/AIDS benefit concert featuring the songs of Nigerian artist Fela Kuti (718-636-4100, www.bam.org).

Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer�s Life, 1990-2005
More than 200 works by Annie Leibovitz, one of the most celebrated photographers working today will be on view at the Brooklyn Museum from October 20 through January 21, 2007. The exhibit will feature iconic images of public figures including a pregnant Demi Moore, Nelson Mandela in Soweto and Jack Nicholson on Mulholland Drive (718-638-5000, www.brooklynmuseum.org).

Brice Marden
The Museum of Modern Art presents a retrospective of paintings and drawings of the American artist Brice Marden, best known for his monochromatic single-panel paintings and calligraphic works. The exhibition, on view from October 29 through January 15, 2007 will feature two new large-scale paintings exhibited for the first time (212-708-9400, www.moma.org).

Dance at Queens Theatre in the Park
The 2006-2007 dance season, will delight audiences with exciting performances from the Saint Petersburg Classic Ballet Theatre on October 21 and 22, Paul Taylor Dance Company on November 11 and 12 and Royston Dance Company and Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre next year (718-760-0064, www.queenstheatre.org).

Gold
All that glitters is Gold at the American Museum of Natural History during this fascinating exhibit that examines the art and science behind the icon of wealth. From November 18 through August 19, 2007, visitors will encounter a showcase of gold treasures ranging from the famous Latrobe Nugget and rare doubloons from sunken Spanish galleons to pre-Colombian jewelry and Olympic medals (212-769-5100, www.amnh.org).

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
The 2006 New York City Center season leaps into action on November 29 with Alvin Ailey�s masterpiece Revelations, performed to live music. In the five weeks that follow, audiences will enjoy fantastic world premieres Gamelan Gardens and New Uri Sands; the company premiere of Twyla Tharp�s The Golden Section from her full-length ballet The Catherine Wheel with music by David Byrne and three new productions including John Butler�s Portrait of Billie, The River and Pas de Duke, which was originally created by Alvin Ailey for Judith Jamison and Mikhail Baryshnikov (212-405-9000, www.alvinailey.org).